Ratchet wrench



w. TUTTLE,

RATCHET WRENCH.

APPL |CATION 'FILED APR, 23, 1920.

1,426, 1 2'7, Patented Aug. 15, 1922.

WALTER} I; TUTTLE, or PROVIDENCE, nnonnistaivn, nssreivon 1T6 FRANK MOSS- BERG cor/frame; or ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, a conronarron or nnonn ISLAND.

ment in Ratchet Wrenches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ratchet wrenches and thelike. One ofthe objects thereof is to provide a construction for devices of the above nature characterized by simplicity and practicability in a marked degree. Another object is'to provide a device of the above nature of highly efficient action and strongand'durable in construction. Other objects will be in partobvious andin part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement 'of' parts which will be exemplified in the'structure hereinafter described'andthe scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of various. possible embodiments of this invention,

Figure 1 is aplan, certain parts being removed and broken away in order to show the construction more clearly; I

Figure 2 is a sectional view along the line 22 of Figure 1, and

FigureB is a sectional view along the line 3-3 of Figure 1Q v Similar reference characters refer to sim lar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referringnow to the drawings 1n detail, there is shown a wrench handle 10 having cast integral therewith a head portion 11. This head portion is of a general annular form except where it merges into the handle 10, and isprovided with an inwardly directed flange 12 the edge portion of which is circular to serve as a bearing.

The thickness of the head portion 11 is reduced-with respect to that of the handle 10 at the shoulder 13 against which'abuts a cover member 14 held in lace as by the rivets 15. This cover mem er is provided with a circular opening-lti adapted to serve RATCHE'I WRENCH. Y

Specification of Letters Patent. 'Patenfd .Au 1'5 v 1922 Application filed Ap1i1 23, i920. I Seria1 Nb. 375;935.

bearing formed in the flange 12.

Mounted within the head is 'a ratchet 17 provided with outwardly directed shoulders 18 respectively fittedin the above bearings as a bearing and issubstantially' equal 'to'the of the flange 12 and opening 16. Theteeth of the ratchet proper are so formed as to clear-the inner wall of the head as at 19 and thus permit free rotation of the ratchet within the head. It may here be noted that the term ratchet is herein used in 'a broad sense to denote, unless otherwise modified,

any toothed member, the teeth of'w'hich are adapted to co-act with a dog. or pawl.

Centrally formed inthe'ratchet 17' is an opening 20 of non circular configuration in order to fitover a'nut, the latter term. being broadly used'to denote any part'withwhich thewrench may co-act for the purpose of turning the same. A ball 21 is' preferably mounted in the walls ofthe opening 20 and outwardly spring-pressed in the well known way in order to adapt it to exert frictional pressure on the nut and prevent the latter from dropping out of the wrench in use.

Formed in the head '11 and preferably ex tending through an integral offset 22 in the handle lO is a recess 23 preferably of circular conformatlon as indicated'in Figure 3 of the drawings.

Secured in thiswrench is a slidable dog or pawl2t having a circular portion formed in its lower end into which fits a coiledspring 25'. This spring normally urges the pawl in a' direction'toward the ratchetl'? and the pawl is preferably so mounted as to be directed substantially toward the center of they ratchet. The active end of the pawl at 26 is so shaped as to form an edge 27 between the flattened "surfaces'28 and 29. This that the component of the force directed axially of the recess 23 will overcome the friction of the parts and the force-of the spring 25, and cause the pawl to recede bodily into the recess and permit the teeth of the ratchet to snap past the same.

I The surface 29 of the pawl, however, together with the surface of the ratchet teeth against which it abuts, are so formed that upon the head being swung in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow, the pawl will lock itself in position. In other words, this surface is so abrupt that the friction of the parts will jam the pawl into position and prevent the relatively small component of force extending longitudinally of the recess, from causing the pawl to recede.

Thus assuming that the opening is fitted over a nut which it is desired to turn, if the head be swung in the direction indicated by the arrow, the nut with the ratchet will be unaffected as the dog snaps over the several ratchet teeth. On the other hand, if the wrench be swung in the opposite direction, the pawl will jam or look itself in position and rotate the ratchet and the nut fitted therein.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved and that although the parts are few in number and of extreme simplicity, nevertheless their action is thoroughl effective and dependable.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention 1. ln construction for ratchet wrenches and the like, in combination, means comprising a ratchet adaptedto engage and turn a nut, a mounting for said ratchet through which said ratchet is turned and provided with a substantially round recess directed toward said ratchet, a round pawl fitting said recess, and a spring within said recess urging said pawl toward said ratchet to lock said ratchet against relative turning in one direction, said pawl being provided at its engaging end with a pair of flattened surfaces angularly disposed with respect one to another and adapted to fit bet-ween the teeth of said ratchet and with a flattened lateral bearing portion adapted to hold said pawl. against rotation in its recess.

2. In construction for ratchet wrenches and the like, in combination, a pair of members one of which is adapted to engage and turn a nut, and through the other of which turning force is applied to the first member, a ratchet formed on one of said members and a cylindrical recess flattened at one end formed in the other member, a round pawl mounted to slide in said recess and provided with a flattened lateral bearing portion adapted to hold said pawl against rotation in the recess therefor, and a spring urging said pawl toward said ratchet, said pawl being adapted to co-act with said ratchet and in one direction of relative rotation to permit said ratchet to slip past by bodily recession within said recess, and in the other direction of rotated force to lock said first members one to another.

3. In construction for ratchet wrenches and the like, in combination, a ratchet provided with an opening to fit over and turn a nut, a member having a portion adapted to mount said ratchet and permit the same to rotate therein and a portion serving as a handle through which said ratchet is turned, said last member having a cylindrical recess formed therein extending toward said ratchet and inclined outwardly into a projection on saidhandle, a pawl movable endwise to a limited extent within said recess to lock said ratchet, and a spring within said recess urging said pawl toward said ratchet.

4. In construction for ratchet wrenches and the like, in combination, a ratchet provided with an opening adapted to fit over and turn a nut and with a pair of circular shoulders respectively formed on its sides, a mounting for said ratchet having a handle portion a portion enclosing the ratchet and consisting of a flange forming a portion for one of said shoulders, and a cover part secured to said mounting by screws to embrace and form a bearing for the other shoulder of said ratchet and hold said ratchet against sidewise movement, and a round pawl slidably fitted within a cylindrical recess in said projection on said handle and shaped to co-act with the teeth of said ratchet and permit relative turningin one direction and lock the parts against relative turning in opposite direction, said pawl being provided with a flattened lateral bearing portion adapted to cooperate with a corresponding bearing portion in said cylindrical recess to prevent the rotation of said pawl in said recess.

5. In construction for ratchet wrenches and the like, in combination, a ratchet provided with an opening adapted to fit over and turn a nut and with a pair of circular shoulders respectively formed on its sides, a mounting for said ratchet having a handle portion, a portion enclosing the ratchet and an integral flange forming a portion for one of said shoulders, a cover part secured to said mounting to embrace and form a bearing for the other shoulder of said ratchet and hold said ratchet against sidewise movement, a pawl provided with a cylindrical pocket in one end thereof and slidably fitted within a recess in said mounting and shaped to co-act with the teeth of said ratchet and permit relative turning in one direction and lock the parts against relative turning in the opposite direction, and a coiled spring within said recess and entering said pocket tending to force said pawl out of said recess into engagement With said ratchet, said pawl being provided with a flattened lateral bearing portion adapted to cooperate with a corresponding bearing portion in said cylindrical recess to prevent the rotation of said pawl in said cylindrical recess.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification this 12th day or" April, 1920.

WALTER I. TUTTLE. 

